Vale artist to take part in new campaign

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Evesham artist Nikki Moulton is to take part in a nationwide retail scheme in Moreton-in-Marsh. Photo by Marcus Mingins 0613023MMR Order this picture online at www.buyphotos247.com

A TALENTED artist from Evesham is set to brush-up on her business skills after being chosen to take part in a nationwide scheme.

Published illustrator Nikki Moulton will be able to show and sell her art work in a previously empty and unused shop in Moreton-in-Marsh as part of the Pop Up Britain campaign.

Pop Up Moreton, in Old Market Way, opened last week and will be the first shop outside of London to be used to promote small businesses and retailers who are financially unable to take on a shop single-handed.

In the next eight weeks a dozen businesses and start ups will take up a space in the shop and show visitors what they are all about.

Mrs Moulton, who has previously worked on children's books and television, will start next Friday (February 15) and told the Observer the arrangement will help her greatly.

"I'm really excited because I've done craft fayres and other small events but I've never had the chance to sell my work in a shop before," she said.

"It's great because I will be there for the next two weeks and Moreton is such a lovely place. There will be lots of different people coming so it is going to be a really good opportunity for me.

"Currently I have a Facebook page so people can know who I am and what I'm doing but a lot of people don't have Facebook so this is just another way of promoting my work.

"I would never be able to afford the rent for a shop so it really is great to be a part of this. It would be brilliant if other towns could do this such as Evesham where there are loads of empty shops just to give artists and young crafts people the chance to put their work out there."

The campaign has helped more than 70 independent online British businesses get a taste of the High Street since opening its first shop more than six months ago.

StartUp Britain co-founder Emma Jones added: "The community in Moreton-in-Marsh has embraced this project and we hope after the initial eight weeks we can look to expand in the town further. We wish it every success."